The Samsung TU8000 will be replaced by the Samsung AU8000, an entry-level 4k TV, in 2020. It’s a basic model without support for HDMI 2.1 or variable refresh rate (VRR), but that’s to be expected from a cost-effective alternative. It boasts a VA-like panel with a high native contrast ratio that operates best in dim environments, however there is no local dimming capability to enhance the black levels.
It has certain advantages over its predecessor, such as better handling of reflections, so even though it doesn’t become particularly bright, it’s not a bad option for a room with a few lights. Unfortunately, because of the narrow viewing angles, which make the image appear washed out from the side, it is not recommended for large seating configurations. The Samsung AU8000 is suitable for a variety of uses. It has a high natural contrast ratio, which makes it suitable for watching movies, although it lacks a local dimming feature to enhance contrast.
Due to its excellent reflection handling, it is excellent for watching TV shows and is passable for watching sports, but because of its limited viewing angles, it is not recommended for large seating arrangements. Despite the lack of gaming features and sluggish response time, which causes motion to appear fuzzy, it still provides low input lag for a responsive gaming experience. Unfortunately, it lacks the brightness necessary to accentuate highlights and is unable to display a wide color gamut for HDR video.
Design
The first thing we noticed about the AU8000’s design is how much it resembles the Q60A in terms of appearance. Although the two versions are essentially the same, there are a few little details that set them unique. Samsung is advertising its new AirSlim design, which makes the TV significantly slimmer than the TU8000 from the previous year. As a result, the device has a thickness of only 1.2′′ (3 cm), which makes it appear especially beautiful when mounted on a wall.
The top edge of the TV is somewhat curved, as with other TVs, however given the TV’s overall ultra-slim footprint, it seems very unobtrusive. The majority of the design cues on the TV’s back are also taken from the Q60A. As with most Samsung models, the entire back face is made of brushed-texture plastic, although it appears that the inset on the left side that contains all the ports and the unique grooves underneath it for cable management have been raised somewhat to make room for the stand legs to fit beneath them.
Other than the power connector being on the right side and only the VESA mounting holes being visible, everything else is standard. Even the stand that comes with the AU8000 functions similarly to the Q60A but has a somewhat different appearance. We still have the typical bench design, which still needs larger furniture and is still made of plastic, but this one differs from all other bench designs in that you can change the height position. This implies that the TV can go lower than the TU8000 could, but it can also go higher if you wish to mount a soundbar immediately below the 1080p Samsung TV.
A lot of people will undoubtedly appreciate this incredibly clever design. Although there are no specific cable management grooves on the stand, there are plastic clips that attach to the back of the feet to keep all the cords together. The relocation of the Samsung logo and the built-in controls to the right side of the front panel, which Samsung appears to be utilizing in the vast majority of its 2021 models, is another minor and primarily cosmetic change.
Display
When it comes to the display, the AU8000 is a respectable 75 inch TV that produces good images—with a few caveats. In addition to Motion Xcelerator, it supports HDR10+ and HDR10 high dynamic range (HDR) material for improved visual quality. The panel’s colors, contrast, and vibrancy are fairly good right out of the box, and it can smoothly play 4K video at 60 frames per second.
Samsung allows you to experiment with brightness, contrast, sharpness, and other parameters if you don’t like the pre-set color calibration. It offers the same five picture presets as the majority of Samsung TVs Dynamic, Standard, Natural, Movie, and the Filmmaker Mode. My personal favorite is the Natural setting, even though the Dynamic preset’s strong contrast bothered us.
It provides a sharp appearance by bringing a perfect balance of the content’s blacks and whites. If you don’t like the highlighted tones of these picture settings, your best bet is to choose either the Movie or the Filmmaker mode. It lowers the brightness and contrast level while boosting the color tone a little, creating the ideal color profile for watching a movie or a Netflix series.
Features
First, the somewhat disappointing (and presumably unavoidable) news the Samsung AU9000 does not support Dolby Vision advanced HDR. Samsung does not support Dolby Vision, despite having the HDR10+ option, and it doesn’t appear like this will change any time soon. Which is unfortunate because HDR10+ is far less popular and Dolby Vision is available on some of the top video streaming platforms in the world.
But now that the disappointment is over, we can focus on the good things, which is plentiful. First of all, this is a 4K LCD TV with edge-lit LED backlighting, which helps to explain how thin it appeared in my living room. It’s an excellent choice for wall installation, but as we set it down on a table or shelf, we are glad to notice that the straightforward push-and-click feet have some wire management built into them.
Most users should have more than enough connectivity. Most people should be satisfied with the three HDMI inputs, two USB 2.0 ports, a CI card slot, an Ethernet connection, and an aerial binding post for the on-board tuner. Additionally, for some wireless action, there is dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.2.
Ports
The AU8000’s connections will be the subject of our next discussion. First impressions reveal that the layout of the TV differs from that of the TU8000 from the previous year. Instead, it has the same same connectivity setup as the Q60A, which means most ports face sideways while a few face backwards. So, starting from there and turning them sideways, we can see two USB ports for attaching external storage devices, along with a few HDMI cable and an Ethernet port situated in the middle for wired networking. The standard antenna port is also present at the bottom of this part.
A second HDMI port and a reverse-facing Digital Audio output are located next to these. The only difference between this year and previous is that Samsung has moved the Ethernet port to the set of ports that look sideways, while the analogue stereo input and composite video input have been completely eliminated. This has occurred in numerous other of the new 2021 releases, so it is not shocking. The AU8000 employs the older HDMI 2.0 ports rather than the newer HDMI 2.1 TVs, as is customary with all of these budget TVs.
Unfortunately, you will have to purchase one of the mid-tier QLED TVs significantly higher to acquire HDMI 2.1. To be honest, it is not all that strange that the USB ports are the older v2.0 version. At least eARC support is available, which is another useful feature that many people these days look for and allows you to send high-quality object-based audio like Dolby Atmos to another device.
Sound Quality
The AU8000’s audio system has a well-balanced sound profile overall, which is crucial for understanding dialogue, but it doesn’t create a lot of bass. The TV’s two speakers can provide a combined 20W of volume, which is not particularly loud. As a result, it is advised to stay away from noisy areas because listening at maximum volume can cause minor clipping artefacts. The bass still lacks the intensity and richness that a soundbar would provide.
But at least it contributes to giving the soundtrack some presence and preventing the music from becoming too thin. Although a little abrasive, the high frequencies are not very unpleasant to hear. By mixing the music from your own speakers and a soundbar that is linked and suitable, the Q-Symphony option offers more exciting surround sound. In this instance, the sound from each speaker is timed and volume-synchronized. The manufacturer’s website has a list of soundbars that are compatible with it.
Video Quality
Since the new AU8000 uses the same processor as the model from the previous year, it appears that there has been absolutely no change in processing power. Therefore, Samsung has employed what they refer to as a “Crystal Processor 4K.” While specifics on what is different on this chip are not yet known, it is clear that the Crystal Processor 4K lacks the AI capabilities that the Quantum Processor 4K, which is used in the QLEDs, had in both the image and audio departments.
The Crystal Processor has previously undergone extensive testing, and in terms of 4K image upscaling, it is still a very capable device. The TV didn’t show any obvious artefacts from the upscaling process when we tested a variety of source videos in various resolutions for this section of our review, ranging from low SD content and broadcasting material up to 720p, 1080p, and 4K resolution. However, keep in mind that the final product is always greatly influenced by the quality of the original content.
Final Words
Overall, the AU8000 provides everything a low-cost TV like this one should give. Samsung did attempt to provide a device with everything, but regrettably its low price prevents it from excelling in many specific areas. Many people will be debating whether it is better to choose the AU8000 or the TU8000 from the previous year because of its cheaper pricing.
In this regard, we can state that the AU8000 is indeed superior due to its nicer, thinner shape, newly designed remote, slightly brighter display, better colour reproduction, and increased number of audio functions. Although there are not many variations, every improvement in this low-cost sector is appreciated. Unfortunately, the TV falls short of the broad color gamut basic standards, making it a partially developed HDR TV.
Additionally, even modest increases in brightness are still insufficient to do HDR credit. With VA screens, viewing angles are at best average, making this model unsuitable for family gatherings. Additionally, the Tizen platform lacks some capabilities seen on the more expensive Samsung models. Last but not least, HDMI 2.1 is not present here instead, you must get a much more expensive equipment.
